Darwin’s ‘Origin’ survives on tour

Exhibit shows how the scientist’s thought process evolved

Mark Wheeler (left) and Bradford Hollingsworth, co-curators of the San Diego natural History Museum's exhibition "Darwin: Evolution/Revolution," stand amid a collection of animal skeletons that have a backbone. The exhibit is open through February.
— Howard Lipin

Mark Wheeler (left) and Bradford Hollingsworth, co-curators of the San Diego natural History Museum's exhibition "Darwin: Evolution/Revolution," stand amid a collection of animal skeletons that have a backbone. The exhibit is open through February.
— Howard Lipin

Before Bradford Hollingsworth earned a doctorate in biology, before he became curator of herpetology (the study of reptiles and amphibians) at the San Diego Natural History Museum, and before he became co-curator of the museum’s “Darwin: Evolution/Revolution” exhibit, he was a little boy who lived in the woods of Maryland and loved to explore nature.

Hollingsworth credits his grandmother for inspiring his interest in science and the outdoors.

“She didn’t shy away from her religious background,” said Hollingsworth, 44, of Ramona. “But she told her grandchildren that we should also look at what Darwin had to say about nature. I think this exhibition gives everyone a chance to have that same experience. People of all sorts of backgrounds and predispositions will see who Darwin was, and he has an amazing life story.”

The “Darwin: Evolution/Revolution” exhibit, opening today in Balboa Park, coincides with the bicentenary of Darwin’s birth and the 150th anniversary of the publication of “On the Origin of Species,” the groundbreaking and contentious book that launched scientific, philosophical and religious discussion about the evolution of life. The touring show contains the largest collection ever of memorabilia related to Darwin, including the scientist’s notes and artifacts such as his magnifying glass, pistol and Bible.

Many of the creatures Darwin studied are mounted specimens: armadillos and an imposing, wide-eyed rhea, a flightless South American bird similar